Multiple purpose cleaning tool



April 1959 J. J. KOWALEWSKI 2,883,696

MULTIPLE PURPOSE CLEANING TOOL Filed March 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JoH/v J Kown LEWSK/ ///5$ATTORNEY P" 8, 1959 J. J. KOWALEWSKI 2,383,696

. MULTIPLE PURPOSE CLEANING TOOL Fild. March 18. 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jomv J Kownuwsm h); ATTORNEY United States Patent MULTIPLE PURPOSE CLEANING TOOL John J. Kowalewski, Riverside, Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Guam, :1 corporation of Delaware Application March 18, 1955, Serial No. 495,121

7 Claims. (Cl. 15-417) This invention relates to the art of vacuum or suction cleaning and especially to amulti-purpose nozzle orcleaning tool which may be selectively adapted for use on various kinds of pile, fabric or similar floor coverings or alternatively on linoleum or plain hard surfaces such as wood.

Heretofore, it has been the general practice to provide at least two totally difierent and mutually replaceable nozzles for use on such distinctively different surfaces as pile rugs and hard wood or similar plain surfaces.

More particularly, this invention embodies a combination rug nozzle and floor brush. Preferably, such a tool should be as low as possible in order that it may be operated readily under low furniture, beds, sofas, chairs and the like. Numerous swivel type nozzles and combination swivel mountings have heretofore been devised. However, such tools have almost invariably been excessively high, particularly when one member thereof is a floor brush.

In accordance with this invention an exceptionally appropriate shape for a combination nozzle structure is possible without reducing the cross-section of the air suction passage. This is efiected by making a nozzle which is relatively flat and preferably wedge-shaped and hence capable of ready manipulation beneath low furni ture, chairs and the like, while having the cross section of the air passage rectangular with its minor dimension vertical so as to provide the desired area at a minimum height.

Furthermore this tool is so constructed that a valve member, in spite of having a rectangular portion conforming to the shape of said passage, is nevertheless rotatably mounted in the nozzle body to facilitate the ready change-over from one type of nozzle to another type of nozzle without removal of the tool from the suction conduit.

Further objects and still other advantages of this invention will become apparent upon considering the following description and accompanying drawings where:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the nozzle of this invention showing the cleaning tool with its rug nozzle in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the large rectangular suction air conduit possible with this embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat similar sectional view to that of Fig. 3 showing the floor brush in operating position and a rear plan view of a valve locking member;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rotatable valve member removed from the cleaner nozzle;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3, showing a second embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

2,883,696 Patented Apr. 28, 1959 Fig. 9 is a rear elevational view of the nozzle shown in Figs. 6 and 8; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view shown in Figs. 6 through 9. 1

Referring to the drawings, reference character 10 desig-h nates in general the body member of a cleaning tool,

different faces of which have formed thereon a floor brush nozzle 12 and a rug nozzle 14. The tool 10 comprises a number of individual parts among which are a valve member 16, an upper die casting or plastic casting 17;-

and a lower die casting or plastic casting 18, Fig. 2,

held together by screws 19. The brush nozzle 12 is formed by having secured to the upper face of casting 17, a metal stamping 20 provided with a centrally dis-' posed throat or aperture 22 and secured to the casting-- 17 by the screws 19.

The brush elements in the form of strips of bristles 32 are held securely in channels 26 formed longitudinally or lengthwise along the edges of stamping 20, Figs. 3'

and 4. Channels 26 fit securely in grooves 28 formed in casting 17. Thus, the floor brush portion of the cleaning .tool is made up of stamping 20 together with the strips of bristles 32.

The outer face 14 of casting 18 includes elements making up the rug nozzle. In addition to the conventional lips, ribbed portions, and the like, the rug nozzle 14 also has a rod 40, cylindrical in shape, provided'with teeth 42 formed on one side thereof, which rod is held in place by appropriate means.

42 or a smooth cylindrical surface to the rug.

Each nozzle communicates with a generally rectangular suction passageway 50 extending from the interior to the rear of body member 10. Thus the opening or throat-22 of floor brush 12, Figs. 1, 2 and 4, leads to passageway 50, while the rug nozzle 14 is provided with a space bounded by lips 46 and 40 leading to an opening or throat 60, Figs. 2 and 3, which leads to p assage-- way 50.

Valve member 16 serves to selectively interrupts communication between either of the throats 22 or 60 and passageway 50. A perspective View of valve member 16 is shown in Fig. 5. It includes a rectangular portion 62 having a rectangular opening 64 therethrough. ,Ex

tending forwardly from portion 62 on opposite sides of the rectangular opening 64 are portions 66 and 68 each formed with outer cylindrical surfaces having a common axis. Secured to the end of portion 68 is a fiat part 70 having curved ends 72 the outer surfaces of which are cylindrical about the aforesaid common axis. However, the diameter of the cylindrical surface on ends 72 is substantially greater than that of the cylindrical surface on portions 66 and 68.

Extending rearwardly from rectangular portion 62 is a cylindrical part 74 formed with a cylindrical bore in which is rotatably mounted one end of an elbow 76 retained by a spring clip 78. The other 'end is adapted to receive a hollow wand connected by a flexible hose to a source of suction.

Valve member 16 is assembled between the castings 17 and 18 of the nozzle body, with the outer cylindrical surfaces of portions 66 and 68 rotatably engaging cylindrical surfaces bounding the central parts of otherwise rectangular passageway 50. Rectangular portion 62 of the valve is disposed outside of the nozzle body and hence there is nothing to interfere with its rotation, while the fiat part 70 and ends 72 are aligned with throats 22 and 60 and may swing therethrough when the valve is rotated. Pontion 62 serves to seal the ends of rectangular passageway 50 and to connect the ends with the interior of cylindrical part 74.

of a part of the nozzle The rod may be turned by means of a handle 43 so as to present either the teeth assaeae As will be seen in Fig. 2, the sides of throats 22 and 60 are cylindrical and of substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical surfaces on ends 72. In the position of the valve shown in this figure, as well as in Fig. 3, the flat part 70 extends across throat 22, thus interrupting flow from brush nozzle 12, while establishing communication from rug nozzle 14 through throat 60, passageway 50, and opening 64 to elbow 76. If the nozzle body is rotated 180 about the valve member 16, the fiat portion 70 will extend across the throat 60, as shown in Fig. 4, thus interrupting flow from the rug nozzle 14 and connecting the floor brush nozzle 12 with the source of suction. As the nozzle body is rotated with respect to the valve member, the ends 72 extend out through the throats 22 and 60, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. In order to maintain the overall height of the nozzle at a minimum the outer surfaces of the brush and rug nozzle are disposed as close together as possible, and as appears in Fig. 2, one half of the length of the elongated portion 70 of the valve is greater than the distance from the center of rotation of the valve member to the outer boundary of the rug nozzle 14, which results in one end of portion 70 extending entirely outside the nozzle as the valve is shifted from one operating position to the other.

In order to secure the valve member in either of the two above-mentioned positions, a latch 80 is pivotally mounted at 82 in a recess 83 formed in one end of portion 62 of the valve member 16 beyond the end of passageway 50 and is biased by a spring 84 into engagement with one or the other of a pair of recesses 86 formed in the rear outer wall of the nozzle body.

In operation, the cleaning tool herein described is readily and easily used to clean all types of surfaces. With the parts in the position as shown in Figs. 1 through 3, namely with the rug cleaning nozzle in operative position, suction is seen to be conveyed from the vacuum cleaner unit through elbow 76, the passageway of which communicates through the bore of cylindrical part 74 with passageway 50 which connects to throat 651 of rug cleaning nozzle 14. In this position, the tool 18 may be used to clean rugs, carpets and similar pile floor coverings. It can be readily pushed underneath low furniture and the elbow 90 can be swiveled 90 orv further in either direction without impairing the suction to thereby permit lowering the wand even down to a position parallel with the floor.

In order to use the floor brush 12 for cleaning hard wood floors, linoleum and the like, the cleaning tool is simply rotated about the valve member 16, the latch 80 being first pivoted against the action of spring 84 to release it from engagement with one of the recesses 86. In this position communication of the suction air stream from the vacuum cleaner is established through passageway 50, Fig. 4, to throat 22 and directly to the floor brush 12.

The embodiment disclosed in Figs. 6 through 10 is similar to that above described, with the exception that the body of the nozzle 12 comprises a single casting or moulding 200, instead of the separate pieces 17 and 18. Because of the fact that the body is a single piece it is necessary to make special provision for introducing the valve member 16. This is accomplished by making the opening 202 in the rear wall of the casting 261) of sufii cient size so that the valve member may be inserted in an axial direction therethrough. In order to retain the valve member in position a keeper. designated generally by reference character 204 and shown particularly in Fig. 10 is Provided. This keeper includes an elongated part 206 which is of the same length as the fiat part '79 of the valve shown in Fig. 57 This part carries curved ends 208 which are of the same curvature and are at least as long as the curved ends 72 of the valve member. Also, the thickness of the material of which the keeper 204 is made is at least as great as that of the part '70 and ends 72 of the valve. The central portion of the elongated part 206 is formed with a cylindrical surface 210 having the same radius as the outer cylindrical surfaces of the portions 66 and 69 of the valve member. Extending outwardly from the ends 208 of the keeper are flanges 212 provided with apertures 214. On the rear or outer face of each flange is formed a pair of arcuate projections 216 which cooperate with a latch 218 pivotally mounted on the valve member for releasably retaining the latter for rotation.

In order to assemble the valve member and the keeper in the casting 200, the keeper is placed on the valve memher With the portion 68 of the latter engaging the cylindrical surface 210 of the keeper, and with the valve member and keeper in this position, these parts may be inserted into the opening 202 in the casting until the flanges 212 contact the rear surface of the casting. The keeper may then be secured in place by means of screws 220 extending through the openings 214 and engaging tapped holes in the casting. As long as the keeper is thus retained in place, it is impossible to withdraw the valve member, but the latter may be rotated in the same manner as was the case in the first embodiment. In other respects, the two embodiments are the same and it is not believed necessary to again describe in detail the arrangement of the bristles and otherparts forming the cleaning nozzles.

While I have shown two more or less specific embodiments of my invention this has been done for purposes of illustration only and the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What I claim is:

I. In a vacuum cleaner suction tool, a body having dissimilar nozzle structures on opposite sides thereof, said body including a rear wall formed with a substantially rectangular opening with the longer boundary walls thereof extending parallel to said sides, cylindrical recesses formed at the centers of said longer Walls, passageways leading from the respective nozzle structures to said opening, a valve member having means formed with an external cylindrical surface rotatably disposed in said cylindrical recesses, a rectangular portion having a rectangular passage therethrough and extending from said means and disposed outside said rear wall, and an elongated member forming part of said valve extending from said means and disposed in said body in alignment with said passageways and swingable therethrough upon rotation of said valve member.

2. In a vacuum cleaner suction tool, a body having dissimilar nozzle structures on opposite sides thereof, said body including a rear well formed with a substantially rectangular opening with the longer boundary walls thereof extending parallel to said sides, cylindrical recesses formed at the centers of said longer walls, passageways leading from the respective nozzle structures to said opening, a valve member having means formed with an external cylindrical surface rotatably disposed in said cylindrical recesses, a rectangular portion having a rectangular passage therethrough and extending from said means and disposed outside said rear wall, an elongated member forming part of said valve extending from said means and disposed in said body in alignment with said passageways and swingable therethrough upon rotation of said valve member, and releasable latching means carried by said rectangular portion for restraining said valve member against rotation in said body.

3. In a vacuum cleaner suction tool, a body having dissimilar nozzle structures on opposite sides thereof, said body including a rear wall formed with a substantially rectangular opening with the longer boundary walls thereof extending parallel to said sides, cylindrical recesses formed at the centers of said longer walls, passageways leading from the respective nozzle structures to said opening, a valve member having means formed with an external cylindrical surface rotatably disposed in said cylindrical recesses, a rectangular portion having a rectangular passage therethrough and extending from said means and disposed outside said rear wall, an elongated member forming part of said valve extending from said means and disposed in said body in alignment with said passageways and swingable therethrough upon rotation of said valve member, releasable latching means carried by saidrectangular portion for restraining said valve member against rotation in said body, and a conduit member rotatably secured to said rectangular portion and communicating with the passageway therethrough.

4. In a vacuum cleaner suction tool, a body having dissimilar hollow nozzle structures on opposite sides thereof, a valve member rotatably mounted in said body, passageways leading from the respective nozzle structures to said valve member, the central portions of said passageways being bounded by arcuate surfaces, and said valve including an elongated portion formed with ends having outer arcuate surfaces of the same diameter as the aforementioned surfaces, said elongated portion being disposed in alignment with said passageways and swingable therethrough and within said hollow nozzle structures upon rotation of said valve member, said arcuate surfaces cooperating with each other to substantially prevent flow of air therebetween, one half the length of said elongated portion being greater than the distance from the center of rotation of said valve member to the outer boundary of at least one of said nozzle structures.

5. In a vacuum cleaner suction tool, a body having dissimilar hollow nozzle structures on opposite sides thereof, said body including a rear wall formed with a substantially rectangular opening with the longer boundary walls thereof extending parallel to said sides, cylindrical recesses formed at the centers of said longer walls, a passageway connecting the respective hollow nozzle structures to each other and to said opening, the central portion of said passageway being bounded by ancuate surfaces, a valve member having means formed with {an external cylindrical surface rotatably disposed in said cylindrical recesses, a rectangular portion having a rectangular passage therethrough and extending from said means and disposed outside said rear wall, said valve including an elongated portion formed with ends having outer arcuate surfaces of the same diameter as the aforementioned arcuate surfaces, said elongated portion being disposed in said passageway and swingable therethrough and within said hollow nozzle structures upon rotation of said valve member, said arcuate surfaces of said passageway and said ends cooperating with each other to substantially prevent flow of air therebetween.

6. In a vacuum cleaner suction tool, a pair of members joined together to form a body, dissimilar hollow nozzle structure on the opposite outer faces of the respective members, a valve member rotatably mounted in a recess having at least a circular portion formed by aligned cavities in the adjacent faces of said members, openings leading from the respective hollow nozzle structures to opposite sides of said recess, and said valve including an elongated portion disposed in alignment with said openings and swingable therethrough and through said hollow nozzle structures upon rotation of said valve member, the length of said elongated portion being greater than the diameter of the circular portion of said recess.

7. In a vacuum cleaner suction tool, a one piece body having dissimilar hollow nozzle'structures on opposite sides thereof, said body being formed with a centrally located recess, a substantially rectangular aperture having a central circular portion through a rear wall of said body communicating with said recess, a valve member insertable through said aperture into said recess, said valve member being rotatably mounted within said circular portion, openings leading from the respective hollow nozzle structures to opposite sides of said recess, said valve including an elongated portion disposed in alignment with said openings and swingable therethrough upon rotation of said valve, and a member securable within said opening for retaining said valve member in said recess, the length of said elongated portion being greater than the diameter of the circular portion of said aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,016,649 Spencer Feb. 6, 1912 1,849,515 Ell Mar. 15, 1932 2,143,845 Edstl'om Jan. 17, 1939 2,212,942 Karlstrom Aug. 27, 1940 2,239,384 Hansson Apr. 22, 1941 

